Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Deep Time

Aurora Borealis is proud to release the debut album by THE STARGAZER'S ASSISTANT. Entitled "The Other Side of the Island", the album is the soundtrack to the sculptural works collected under the same name, both being the work of David J Smith. In addition to his percussion duties with Guapo, Smith has spent the last two years bringing his visions to life; life that emerged slowly, painstakingly, out of wax, coal, copper and lead. In much the same way, the soundtrack itself slowly writhes organically before the listener: the groan of the motherlode, the shifting of tectonic plates, the song of the Earth's crust. In collaboration with longstanding musical cohort Daniel O'Sullivan (with whom Smith plays in Miasma & The Carousel of Headless Horses and Guapo) and audio engineer Antti Uusumaki (Mothlite), Smith has created a strange work comprising of layered vocals, percussion, electronics and prepared strings. The Stargazer's Assistant offer up the soundtrack of eternal, elemental labour.

Recent collaborators in his live improvised performances, two of which took place at a gallery, the sculptures bearing mute witness to the spectacle, have included Daniel O'Sullivan, Alexander Tucker and Mark Pilkington (better known for his work with Strange Attractor magazine).

The CD was also available in 2 highly limited gallery editions sold at the exhibition, one in a silk screened cloth bag, the other in an additional lead slipcase. Please email if you are interested in these editions, we may be able to get some still.

1. The Other Side of the Island pt 1 (22:09)2. The Transport (2:50)3. The Other Side of the Island pt 2 (13:02)